How to Make Time for Art When You Have a Busy Life
If you’ve ever thought, “I really want to make art, but I just don’t have the time,” I get it.
Life gets full.
There’s work, family, errands, responsibilities, appointments, and all the little things that somehow seem to fill every open space in the day. And when you finally have a little free time, it can feel easier to scroll your phone or watch TV than to pull out all your art supplies.
But I’ve learned something important:
You don't necessarily need more time to make art. You need to make the time you already have easier to use.
For me, creativity has become less about waiting for a huge block of uninterrupted time and more about finding small ways to make creating part of my actual life.
Stop waiting for the perfect afternoon
One of the biggest traps for creative people is thinking we need a big, beautiful chunk of time to make something worthwhile.
We imagine clearing the entire afternoon, putting on music, getting completely set up in the studio, and spending three uninterrupted hours creating.
And when that doesn't happen?
We don't create at all.
Instead, try giving yourself permission to make art in smaller pieces.
Maybe you have 20 minutes before dinner.
Maybe you can sketch while you're drinking your morning coffee.
Maybe you can work on one small section of a painting and come back to it later.
Maybe you simply sit down and make marks without worrying about what the finished piece will become.
Twenty minutes of creating is still creating.
And sometimes those little pockets of time add up to something much bigger.
Make it easy to start
I've also learned that the more steps between me and creating, the less likely I am to actually do it.
If I have to find all my supplies, decide what I'm going to make, prepare everything, and figure out where to start, I can spend my entire “creative time” getting ready.
That's one reason I love having projects that already have some direction.
This is part of what inspired me to create my painting kits.
Instead of wondering What should I paint? What colors do I need? Where do I even begin? you can sit down and start.
Each kit includes a pre-traced canvas, paint, brushes, a palette, and instructions, along with a video tutorial to guide you through the process.
It's not about taking the creativity away.
It's about removing some of the friction that can keep you from getting started.
Paint with other people
Another way I've found to make time for art is to actually put it on the calendar.
That's one of the things I love about paint parties.
When you sign up for a paint party, you're not waiting until you magically “find the time.” You're making the time.
You show up.
You have your canvas waiting for you.
You have the supplies.
You have someone guiding you through the process.
And you get to spend a couple of hours doing something creative with other people.
There's something really special about that.
I've watched people come into a paint party saying they aren't artists or that they haven't painted in years — and then they leave carrying something they made themselves.
You don't have to consider yourself an artist to make art. You just have to give yourself permission to create.
If you'd like to host a paint party with friends, family, coworkers, or a group in your community, you can learn more about my painting experiences here:
Give yourself permission to make imperfect art
This one might be the hardest.
Sometimes we don't make art because we're worried about wasting our supplies, making something ugly, or not being “good enough.”
But creativity isn't supposed to be another place where we have to perform perfectly.
Some of the most valuable things I've made started as experiments.
A weird color combination.
A mark I didn't expect.
A painting that didn't turn out the way I imagined.
A piece that taught me what I want to try differently next time.
That's part of the process.
Your art doesn't have to be worthy of a gallery, Instagram, or even anyone else's eyes.
You are allowed to make art simply because you enjoy making it.
Find inspiration in your everyday life
You don't have to go looking for complicated creative exercises.
Pay attention to what's already around you.
Take a picture of an interesting flower.
Notice the colors in the sky.
Look at the shapes
Collect textures.
Sketch something you see on your walk.
Take a photo of an old building that catches your eye.
I've found so much inspiration simply by slowing down and paying attention to nature.
And sometimes that's where creativity begins — not at the canvas, but with simply noticing.
Make creativity part of your routine
You don't have to completely reorganize your life to become more creative.
Try starting small.
Choose one evening a week.
Keep a sketchbook where you can easily reach it.
Set a timer for 15 minutes.
Schedule a paint night with a friend.
Keep a small project ready to pick up when you have a few minutes.
Or choose a project that gives you enough direction to get started without taking away the fun of making it your own.
The goal isn't to add another obligation to your already-full schedule.
The goal is to make room for something that gives something back to you.
What I'm creating in the studio
This is exactly the kind of creativity I'm trying to build into Mixed Media Mindset.
I'm creating art, developing beginner-friendly painting kits, hosting paint parties, and sharing the creative process through videos and tutorials.
If you'd rather paint along with me from home, you can check out my current painting kits.
And if you'd like to see more of the process behind the artwork, I'm sharing longer-form videos on YouTube, where I can talk more about creativity, art-making, and finding your way back into the creative flow.
You don't need more time. You need a starting point.
If you've been waiting for life to slow down before you give yourself permission to make art, maybe you don't have to wait.
Start with fifteen minutes.
Make one mark.
Paint one section.
Take a walk and notice something beautiful.
Come to a paint party.
Open that sketchbook you've been saving.
Whatever it is, start small.
Because creativity doesn't have to compete with your busy life.
It can become part of it.
And sometimes, making a little time for art is exactly what helps us slow down enough to enjoy the life we're already living.